Megapolis Plan to be institutionalized through Parliament: Mawilmada

June 16, 2016 (LBO) - The proposed Western Region Megapolis Plan will be institutionalized through an act of Parliament, in order to make sure it remains intact as a stable ‘national policy’ said Nayana Mawilmada, Head of Investment of the 40 billion dollar Megapolis project.





Mawilmada revealed this, when he addressed the Main Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in response to a question raised as to whether there is ‘Bipartisan‘ support for the project. ‘There is broad-based support for the project.





The plan will go through the parliament and will be made law together with the establishment of a new institution for its implementation to ensure that a stable policy environment is established.

If somebody wants to change the plan and periodic revisions and updates will certainly be required-, it will have to be done through a parliamentary mandate,” Mawilmada said. Samantha Ranatunga, Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, who chaired the meeting asked the senior Megapolis official about how the government intends to mobilize land resources for the project.



Mawilmada said: “Some land acquisition will certainly be required, but where possible we will seek to partner with private sector landowners so that the benefits of planned developments can be shared. We are also looking to consolidate management of state land resources so that state assets can be utilized and committed for development projects more efficiently and also put forward for investments more systematically.



” The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce main committee, which consist of top business leaders as members, meets once in every month and invites a guest speaker to address the committee members on various important economic issues. The Vice Chairperson, Rajendra Theagarajah, and Dhara Wijayatilake, CEO of the Ceylon Chamber, were also present at the meeting.